Communication system, communication apparatus, and communication method

Abstract

A control system includes a control apparatus and a remote control device. The control apparatus receives an operation panel from a controlled apparatus. The operation panel includes display elements used to control the controlled apparatus. The display elements include a specific display element used to control a specific function of the controlled apparatus. The remote control device has first and second operating units. The first operating unit is used to control the specific function of the controlled apparatus using the operation panel. The second operating unit is used to control the specific function of the controlled apparatus. The control apparatus receives a control signal from the remote control device, and generates one of a first command and a second command in accordance with the control signal. The first and second commands are used to control the specific function of the controlled apparatus.

1. A control system, comprising:
 a control apparatus that receives an operation panel from a controlled apparatus, the operation panel including display elements used to control the controlled apparatus, the display elements including a specific display element used to control a specific function of the controlled apparatus; and 
 a remote control device having first and second operating units, the first operating unit being used to control the specific function of the controlled apparatus using the operation panel and the second operating unit being used to control the specific function of the controlled apparatus, 
 wherein said control apparatus includes (a) a receiving unit that receives a control signal from said remote control device, and (b) a control unit that (i) generates a first command if the control unit determines in accordance with the control signal that the specific display element in the operation panel is operated using the first operating unit, and (ii) generates a second command if the control unit determines in accordance with the control signal that the second operating unit is operated, the first and second commands being used to control the specific function of the controlled apparatus, 
 wherein the first command generated by the control unit is sent from said control apparatus to the controlled apparatus, 
 wherein the second command generated by the control unit is sent from said control apparatus to the controlled apparatus, and 
 wherein the control unit updates the operation panel using data sent from the controlled apparatus to said control apparatus in response to the second command so as to indicate that the specific function of the controlled apparatus is controlled, if the second command is sent from said control apparatus to the controlled apparatus. 
 
   
   
     2. A control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit determines, according to the control signal, which of the display elements in the operation panel is operated. 
   
   
     3. A control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit determines, according to the control signal, whether to move a cursor on the operation panel. 
   
   
     4. A control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit determines whether to send the second command from said control apparatus to the controlled apparatus even if the operation panel is not displayed on a display unit. 
   
   
     5. A control apparatus comprising:
 a first receiving unit that receives an operation panel from a controlled apparatus, the operation panel including display elements used to control the controlled apparatus, the display elements including a specific display element used to control a specific function of the controlled apparatus; 
 a second receiving unit that receives a control signal from a remote control device, the remote control device having first and second operating units, the first operating unit being used to control the specific function of the controlled apparatus using the operation panel and the second operating unit being used to control the specific function of the controlled apparatus; and 
 a control unit that (i) generates a first command if said control unit determines in accordance with the control signal that the specific display element in the operation panel is operated using the first operating unit, and (ii) generates a second command if said control unit determines in accordance with the control signal that the second operating unit is operated, the first and second commands being used to control the specific function of the controlled apparatus, 
 wherein the first command generated by said control unit is sent from said control apparatus to the controlled apparatus, 
 wherein the second command generated by said control unit is sent from said control apparatus to the controlled apparatus, and 
 wherein said control unit updates the operation panel using data sent from the controlled apparatus to said control apparatus in response to the second command so as to indicate that the specific function of the controlled apparatus is controlled, if the second command is sent from said control apparatus to the controlled apparatus. 
 
   
   
     6. A control apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said control unit determines, according to the control signal, which of the display elements in the operation panel is operated. 
   
   
     7. A control apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said control unit determines, according to the control signal, whether to move a cursor on the operation panel. 
   
   
     8. A control apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said control unit determines whether to send the second command from said control apparatus to the controlled apparatus even if the operation panel is not displayed on the a display unit. 
   
   
     9. A method of controlling a control apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
 receiving an operation panel from a controlled apparatus, the operation panel including display elements used to control the controlled apparatus, the display elements including a specific display element used to control a specific function of the controlled apparatus; 
 receiving a control signal from a remote control device, the remote control device having first and second operating units, the first operating unit being used to control the specific function of the controlled apparatus using the operation panel and the second operating unit being used to control the specific function of the controlled apparatus; 
 generating a first command if it is determined in accordance with the control signal that the specific display element in the operation panel is operated using the first operating unit; 
 generating a second command if it is determined in accordance with the control signal that the second operating unit is operated, the first and second commands being used to control the specific function of the controlled apparatus; 
 sending the first command from the control apparatus to the controlled apparatus if the first command is generated in said first generating step; 
 sending the second command from the control apparatus to the controlled apparatus if the second command is generated in said second generating step; and 
 updating the operation panel using data sent from the controlled apparatus to the control apparatus in response to the second command so as to indicate that the specific function of the controlled apparatus is controlled, if the second command is sent from the control apparatus to the controlled apparatus. 
 
   
   
     10. A method according to  claim 9 , further comprising the step of:
 determining, according to the control signal, which of the display elements in the operation panel is operated. 
 
   
   
     11. A method according to  claim 9 , further comprising the step of:
 determining, according to the control signal, whether to move a cursor on the operation panel. 
 
   
   
     12. A method according to  claim 9 , further comprising the step of:
 determining whether to send the second command from the control apparatus to the controlled apparatus even if the operation panel is not displayed on a display unit.